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Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter, USMC to receive Medal of Honor

by Jonn Lilyea••19

kyle-carpenter-2

From the White House;

On June 19, 2014, President Barack Obama will award Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret), the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Corporal Carpenter will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Corporal Carpenter will be the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service.

Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter, was born in Flowood, Mississippi on October 17, 1989, and graduated from W. Wyman King Academy, Batesburg, South Carolina, in 2008. In February 2009, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Recruiting Station Columbia, South Carolina, and completed his basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, later that year.

[…]

In July 2013, he was medically retired as a Corporal due to his wounds. He is currently a full time student at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

His personal awards include a Purple Heart Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Additional awards and decorations include the Navy Unit Commendation, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one bronze star, North Atlantic Treaty

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19 thoughts on “Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter, USMC to receive Medal of Honor”

  1. We asked ourselves as Drill Instructors whether these kids were up to carrying our Corps into the future, just as Vietnam, Korea and WW2 Marines asked about the men following in their footsteps. Thankfully, they have excelled as Marines,and I’m pretty damn proud to have them in our Corps.

  2. Kyle is a stud. I read his story weeks ago … He is a PT animal!

    He has been under instruction with Dakota for about a year or so.

    Well done Marine.

  3. Well done Corporal William “Kyle” Carpenter. Well done Marine. You have all my honor and respect and will as long as I live.

  5. Two things.

    First, all I have is utmost respect for Corporal Carpenter. His actions on the field are absolutely commendable.

    The second thing, though… I hate to sound like this, because I really do believe that these guys deserve the medals they are getting, but… Is it just me, or are Medals of Honor being passed out quite a lot recently? This is at least the second person to get this award in the last three months. It’s sorta rubbing me the wrong way.

      1. To respond to both: Alright. I’m not familiar with how the medals are awarded, and I am in no way an expert.

        In my mind, it almost seemed like some kind of PR move. Sorry if I rubbed anyone the wrong way, I do believe that every recipient deserved the MoH. It was just the sudden upspike in frequency that concerned me.

        1. No offense taken, youngster. Including Swenson and the recent ‘mass ceremony’, there have indeed been a relatively large number of MOHs awarded in the past few months.

          My point above was to put things in perspective. We’ve been at war in Afghanistan and/or Iraq for going on 13 years now. Cpl Carpenter’s will be the 14th MOH awarded since hostilities began in 2001.

          We fought in Vietnam for (based on official dates) somewhat over 12 years. During that 12 years, 256 MOHs were awarded.

          Yes, more troops fought in Vietnam than have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan to date. But the Vietnam troop total wasn’t 18 times larger.

          1. I understand what Wanderer is saying. I’ve had similar conversations with buddies about, what seems like a surge in MOH recipients, however I think it seems like it’s more prevalent because the recipients are living. Corporal Carpenter has earned the Medal of Honor. I’m just glad they didn’t call it the Congressional Medal of Honor. That would have pissed me off. No award of that calibre should ever be associated with that bunch of losers. Keep up the good work Hondo. (Great movie by the way)

    2. Yeah, when you throw yourself on a grenade to save your fellow Marine, I’d call that commendable too. The MOH chain is rather long and takes time. In this Marine’s case, it was initially questioned whether he actually covered the grenade. The responding medic reportedly said, “Grenades blow up, not down.” He was referring to the many wounds on the front of Carpenter’s body. I cannot say when you know who got the recommendation but rumors of this have been out for several months. And the only thing that you know who does fast is get to fundraisers.

    3. The Medals are not being “passed out” at all. They were earned. It’s not the fault or in anyway under the control of those who earned them that those who approve them don’t seem to think there is any urgency. Yet another shame on those who couldn’t have done what these men have done.

  6. It’s a huge palate cleanser to read of such heroics by a young man who’s contemporaries are sitting in Mama’s basement doing nothing for anyone else. Plus the contrast with the fakers we see here.

  9. Congratulations to CPL Carpenter for this well deserved award.

    I remain hopeful that we will see a living recipient for the war in Iraq one day.

  11. Semper Fi Cpl Carpenter. It’s an honor to have served in the Marine Corps knowing we have brothers like you. May you get all out of life that you wish and work for.
    Frater Infinitas.

  12. I’m grateful the Cpl Carpenter is being recognized for his valor and heroism.

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